The Federal High Court in Lagos State yesterday granted former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, permission to travel abroad for a medical check-up.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke made the order following an application by his lawyer, Ahmed T., seeking leave for medical travel.
Fayose and his firm, Spotless Investment Limited, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly laundering N6.9 billion. But the trial was stalled following the absence of the 12th prosecution witness (PW12), Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro.
Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence, began giving evidence on January 31 and was expected to present himself for resumption of cross-examination by the defence.
When the case was called, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) announced an appearance for the prosecution, while Olalekan Ojo (SAN) appeared for the second defendant.
Ahmed held the brief of Ola Olanipekun (SAN) for the first defendant Fayose.
The prosecutor, who told the court the case was for continuation of cross-examination of Pw12, added that Obanikoro’s aide informed him his principal was out of the country.
Specifically, Jacobs prayed the court to grant an adjournment to the already existing dates in June.
The defence counsel did not oppose the application for adjournment.
Nevertheless, Ojo stated that if the trend continues on the next adjourned date, he would have to make the ‘necessary application’.
On his part, the first defence counsel informed the court of a May 5 application, seeking leave of the court for the defendant’s medical travel.
The prosecutor did not oppose the application.
Justice Aneke granted the defendant’s application to travel for medicals and adjourned till the existing dates of June 6 and 8 for the continuation of trial.
Fayose was first arraigned on October 22, 2018, before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun alongside his company, Spotless Investment Ltd, on 11 counts of alleged fraud and money laundering.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on October 24, 2018, in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in the like sum.
The defendant was re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, on July 2, 2019, after the case was withdrawn from Justice Olatoregun, following the EFCC’s petition.
According to the charge, Fayose and Abiodun Agbele, on June 17, 2014, illegally took possession of N1.2 billion to fund his gubernatorial election campaign in Ekiti State.
Fayose also allegedly received a cash payment of $5 million (about N1.8 billion) from Obanikoro without going through any financial institution.
He is also charged with unlawfully retaining N300 million in a bank account, and illegally taking control of about N622 million.
The EFCC alleged that the former governor reasonably ought to know that the money was part of the proceeds of a crime. It also alleged that the defendants procured De Privateer Ltd. and Still Earth Ltd to illegally retain N851 million.
It was further claimed that Fayose used about N1.6 billion in crime proceeds to acquire property in Lagos and Abuja. The commission also charged Fayose with using N200 million in crime proceeds to acquire a property in Abuja in the name of his elder sister, Moji Oladeji.
The offence, the EFCC said, contravened sections 15(1), 15 (2), 15 (3), 16(2)(b), 16 (d), and 18 (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.
Again, Fayose pleaded not guilty and was allowed to continue on the same bail terms.